Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEBVSL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEBVSL’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; reddish brown-colored stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and single orange-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEBVSL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEBVSL’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flower colors.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number 10-001-45, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number 10-000-25, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEBVSL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBEBVSL’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Reddish brown-colored stems.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Single orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker-colored leaves than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are orange in         color whereas flower tepals of plants of the female parent         selection are pale pink in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are orange in         color whereas flower tepals of plants of the male parent         selection are yellow in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia pendula×Begonia boliviensis ‘Encanto Orange’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,898. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more compact than and not as         spreading as plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had reddish brown-colored stems         whereas plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ had green-colored stems.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Encanto Orange’ differed in         tepal color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEBVSL’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of typical flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBEBVSL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° to 19° C. and light levels averaged 6,000 lux. Plants were eight weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis ‘BKPBEBVSL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number 10-001-45, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number 10-000-25, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 35 to 36 days at temperatures about 21° C. to             23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color;             plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form             tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading and mounded             plant habit; plant shape, broad spreading to flattened             globular; freely basal branching with about twelve basal             branches per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 23.1 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 41.3 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 16.9 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Aspect: About 50° from the vertical. Color,             developing: Close to 178A. Color, developed: Close to 197A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 12.6 cm. Width: About 2.9 cm. Shape: Lanceolate,             asymmetrical. Apex: Long acuminate. Base: Truncate,             asymmetrical. Margin: Bi-serrate. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Darker than between 139A and 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B tinged with             close to 178A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker             than between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 183B to 183C;             venation, close to 147B. Petioles: Length: About 1.6 cm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 148A to             148B; distal ring, close to between 181A and 182A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 148A to 148B tinged with close to             177B to 177C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Single flowers arranged in axillary             compound cymes, typically two rotate female and one             cruciform male flowers; freely flowering habit with about 24             flowers per lateral branch and about 288 flowers developing             per plant; flowers face slightly outwardly to drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about seven             weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             freely and continuously from spring into the autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Female flowers.—Flower diameter: About 7 cm. Flower height:             About 4.6 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter:             About 9 mm to 11 mm. Shape: Oblong to ovate, flattened.             Color: Close to 37B; towards the base, close to 145C.             Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five or six in             a single whorl. Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 32B; towards             the base, close to 23C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 32A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 30B to 30C             flushed with close to 25B; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 40D;             color does not fade with development.         -   Male flowers.—Flower diameter: About 5.7 cm. Flower height:             About 4.8 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm to 12 mm. Shape: Ovate, flattened. Color: Close             to 37B; towards the base, close to 145C. Tepals: Quantity             per flower and arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length:             About 5.3 cm or 5.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm or 2.3 cm.             Shape: Two tepals, ovate; and other two tepals, narrowly             oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 32B; towards the base, close to 22B. When             opening, lower surface: Narrow tepals, close to 32A to 32B;             broader tepals, close to 40C to 40D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Narrow tepals, close to 29A and towards the             margins, close to 30C to 30D; broader tepals, close to 32B;             color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 40D; color does not fade with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 70° from branch axis. Strength: Flexible,             bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 178A to 178B.             Color, lower surface: Close to between 146B and 152D.         -   Pedicels, female flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 40° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             N34C. Color, lower surface: Close to between 153D and 160A.         -   Pedicels, male flowers.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 mm. Angle: Same as peduncle axis. Strength: Flexible,             bending with the weight of the flowers. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to N34C. Color, lower             surface: Close to between 153D and 160A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on male flowers             only: Quantity of stamens per flower: About 70. Filament             length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 23B. Anther             length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther color:             Close to 23B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             11C. Gynoecium: Present on female flowers only. Quantity of             pistils per flower: About six. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm.             Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 23B. Stigma             color: Close to 23B. Ovary color: Close to 145A and 152D;             wings, close to 180C. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEBVSL’ as illustrated and described. 